Description
Make this easy, crowd-pleasing punch for your holiday gathering. It features classic fall flavors and you can easily prepare it as a non-alcoholic mocktail or a spiked cocktail.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 cups apple cider
- 3 cups cranberry juice
- 2 cups ginger ale or sparkling water (chilled)
- 1 cup orange juice (freshly squeezed preferred)
- 1/2 cup lime juice (freshly squeezed preferred)
- 1/4 cup maple syrup (adjust to taste)
- 1 cup vodka or light rum (optional, for cocktail version)
- Ice rings or cubes
- Garnish: Orange slices, fresh cranberries, rosemary sprigs
Instructions
- In a large punch bowl or pitcher, combine the apple cider, cranberry juice, orange juice, lime juice, and maple syrup. Stir well to mix.
- If making the cocktail version, stir in the vodka or rum now.
- Chill the mixture for at least one hour before serving to allow flavors to meld.
- Just before serving, gently stir in the chilled ginger ale or sparkling water. Do not overmix to keep the carbonation.
- Add large ice rings or cubes to the punch bowl to keep the drink cold without diluting it quickly.
- Garnish the top of the punch with orange slices, fresh cranberries, and rosemary sprigs for a festive look.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- For a make-ahead option, mix all ingredients except the carbonated liquid and store it in the refrigerator. Add the ginger ale right before guests arrive.
- To create an ice ring, freeze water, a few cranberries, and a rosemary sprig in a bundt pan or ring mold.
- Taste the base mixture before adding the carbonated liquid; adjust maple syrup if you prefer a sweeter punch.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approximate)
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 35
- Sodium: 10
- Fat: 0
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 0
- Cholesterol: 0